Pine School golfers shooting for a state finals berth

Pine School's boys golf team is used to playing in the regional tournament — it just doesn't have any experience advancing.

The Knights, which do not have a senior on the team, will try to reach the FHSAA Finals for the first time in school history when they compete in the District 7-1A tournament Tuesday morning at Old Marsh in Palm Beach Gardens. The top two teams and the top two individuals advance to the Class 1A Florida Finals.

"I do think we have a legitimate chance of playing well and getting out," Pine School coach Arlen Bento Jr. said. "It's being mature enough to understand that you're not going to have your 'A' game all the time — that sometimes you have to take a bogey because you have to.

"When you have your 'B' game, you have to be a little more attentive. When you have your 'C' game, which is what you have most of the time in high school golf, that's when you have to work to keep it in the mid-70s and that's all maturity. They have to be mature enough to recognize what they have and grind out a good score."

The Knights shot a team total of 304 to win the District 19-1A tournament last week at Fairwinds in Fort Pierce. It was Pine School's third district title in four years.

Bento Jr. believes it will take a score under 300 to secure one of the top two spots in the region. Pine School's top four golfers averaged under 38.5 shots per nine holes during the regular season.

"I looked at all of the district scores and we're not that far off," Bento Jr. said. "I think the winner is going to be around 295 and the second spot will be really close to 300. We know the course well.

"We're trying to play the golf course. The key to Old Marsh is the tee boxes set you up to not hit it where you're supposed to. You can get into trouble there when you're not paying attention to the tee box."

The boys and girls Region 6-2A and girls Region 7-1A tournaments will be played Monday. Vero Beach's boys and Jensen Beach's girls each reached the state tournament a year ago and will be among the top teams in their respective tournaments.

"I don't know that we are the favorite," Jensen Beach coach Mike Thurman said. "Lake Mary is really, really solid, and I know we have to be on top of our game. Can they beat us? Yes. Can we beat them? Yes. And you never know with some of these other teams. We have to take care of ourselves and let the results fall where they will."